Steering mechanism for jet-propelled watercraft



April 29, 1958 K. HANLEY 2,832,306

STEERING MECHANISMFOR JET-PROPELLED WATER-CRAFT Filed Oct. 19. 1956 Alfa/TRAIL P'aslr/oN AETERN Pos/710A) 3 ff-J3 6 6 INVENTOR een an Han [ey ATTORNEY pme STEERMG lie/EESHANISh/l FOR JET-PROPELLED WATERCRAFT Keenan Hanley. Prospect, Qliio, assigner to Hanley Hydroiet, lne., Prospect, Ghio, a corporation of @hie Application @einher 19, 1956, Serial No. 617,051

3 Claims. (Cl. 11S12) This invention relates to jet-propelled watercraft of the type wherein water is discharged under pump pressure from a submerged, craft-mounted, nozzle in the form of a jetted stream, the latter reacting with the more static body of water in which the craft is disposed to apply propulsive forces to the craft.

Apparatus of this kind has been disclosed in my prior l patent, No. 2,691,953, granted October 19, 1954, Wherein is involved an engine-driven pump from which water is discharged under pressure and delivered through a couduit to a turnable nozzle which projects beneath the hotl' matically close the valve when the outlet of the nozzle is facing laterally of the boat, particularly when the nozzle is undergoing turning movement between its rearwardly and forwardly facing positions, or when the pump is being used to supply means other than the nozzle with water under pressure.

The present invention has for one of its important objects to provide a novel, manually operated, control means for actuating the water-how regulating valve in the delivery conduit leading from the pump and for turning the nozzle to operating positions providing for forward or rearward propulsion of the associated watercraft, said control means possessing an improved and simplified construction with respect to the control means disclosed in my aforesaid earlier patent.

For -a further understanding of the invention, including additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is to be had `to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a jet-propelled boat having the bottom thereof provided with a submerged, turoable nozzle; p

Fig.- `2 is a top plan view of the manually actuated nozzle-turning and valve-actuating control means of the present invention, and disclosing the control means in a neutral position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View disclosing the control means in positions locating the :associated nozzle to produce forward propulsion of a boat equipped with `the same;

`Fig. 4 is also a similar view disclosing the control means when actuated to dispose the nozzle in a position producing :rearward movement of the boat;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through `the bottom of the boat equipped with the jetpropulsion apparatus and disclosing in side elevation the improved 'control means of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken through a centrifugal pump employed in supplying the turnable nozzle of the apparatus with water under pressure.

hired fitates tent 2,832,306 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 ice meral 1 designates a boat to which the apparatus of the invention may be applied, the boat having a suitably conlstructed hull 2 formed with a bottom 3l. Carried for turning movement about a vertical axis by the bottom 3 of the boat and arranged in a submerged position below the same, preferably between the bow 4 and the stern 5 of the boat, is a nozzle member 6. In this instance the nozzle member includes a hollow circular body portion 7 which terminates in a laterally direct-ed water-jetting extension 8. The body portion 7 has a swiveled unionin the `circular discharge mouth provided in the downturned end of a conduit 9, the latter leading from the impeller chamber 10 of Ia centrifugal pump 11, a rotary enginedriven impeller bein-g arranged in the chamber 10.

Rotation of the impeller causes water, drawn into the pumpfrom `outside the boat, to be advanced under pressure through the conduit 9 and `forced through the nozzle member for discharge in the form of a continuous stream jetted from the nozzle extension 6. By this operation it will be understood that the boat 1 m-ay be propelled forwardly or rearwardly by turning the nozzle member so that the exten-sion `8 'thereof faces forwardly or rearwardly, respectively, thereof. A movable shut-olf valve 12 is arranged in the conduit 9 to arrest water flow from the pump 11 to the nozzle member 6. If desired, an auxiliary outlet 13 may be joined with the conduit 9 and disposed to withdraw water under pump pressure to discharge the same from the apparatus as a separate stream.

Hydraulic 'boat propulsion apparatus of this construction has been disclosed in my aboveddentified earlier patent, and the present invention aims to provide an irnproved manually operated mechanism for controlling the operation thereof. In the mechanism as illustrated, there is s et forth a rock shaft 14 having its end. portions journaled in spaced stationary bearing-s 15 and 16 mounted on the boat bottom 3. One end of the shaft carries in fixed relation therewith a main operating lever 17 by which the shaft 14 is manually rocked. Also, the shaft 14 has fixed to one end thereof a depending crank arm 18 which has its lower end pivotally attached at 19 wit the forward end of a reach rod 2li.

This rod extends rearwardly and longitudinally of the boat and terminates rearwardlyin an upwardly curved end which is pivotally attached at 2.1 to the forward end of a sliding rack bar 22 carried on the conduit 9. The teeth of this bar mesh with those of a gear 23 fixed to 'the casing journaled, vertical stem 24 of the valve 12, so that rocking movement of the lever 17 will impart position-determining movement to the Valve 1.2 in said conduit.

Also, lixed to the upper end of the stem 24 is a horizontally projecting crank arm 25, the latter having its outer end pivotally united at 26 with the rear end of 4a short longitudinally extending link rod 27. The forward end `of this rod is pivotally joined at 2d with the upwardly bent end of a floating, horizontally disposed, lever arm 29. Intermediately of its length the arm 29 has pivotally connected therewith at 3i) the forward end of a slidable rack bar 31. This bar is supported in bearingy means provided therefor in a boxing 32. `arising from the conduit 9 and disposed concentrically about the vertical axis of turning movement of the nozzle 6. Also, journaled in bearings provided by said boxing is the vertically disposed operating shaft 33 of the nozzle. boxing there is secured to the upper portion of the shaft 33 a gear 34, the teeth of which meshing with those of the rack bar 31. The outer end of the lever arm 29 is pivotally united at 35 with the rear end of a worm gear held, longitudinally extending rod 36, the lever arm ful eruming on the pivotal connections 35 when the main Within the aeaaeoe operating lever 17 is oscillated. The forward-end of the rod 36 is pivotally joined at 37 with the lower end of a crank arm 38. This arm is lined to a shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40. The shaft 39 has Xed thereto a Worm gear 40a whichtmeshes with, a worm 41 fastened on the lower end of `a steering shaft 4.2 which is journaled in ahousing-43, the upper end of the shaft being provided with a turnable steering wheel 154.

lIn the operation of this control system7 when course deviations in `forward or backing directions of movement ofthe boat are desired, the steering wheel 4d is actuated. By turning the steering wheel, the crank arm 3S is rocked through the operation of the Worm gearing 40a and 41. Such rocking movement of arm 38 imparts longitudinal movement of the rod 36 and lever arm Z9. The movement of this `arm is imparted to the rack har 31 to vary the operating posit-ions of the nozzle 6 sufficiently to `change the course of the boat to the desired extent. vIf vmore rapid operation of the nozzle is desired than thatfobtainable.through the relatively slowly acting, worm gear actuated, steering mechanism, as in'cases where it is desired to reverse the position of the nozzle to rapidly arrest travel ofthe boat in a given direction, the lever 1'7 and its yassociated parts are operated. When the lever 17 is rocked, the shaft 14 and crank arm 18 `move with it, ,thereby imparting longitudinal movement to the reach rod 20 and the rack bar 22 of the valveeoperating means. As the valve stem 24 turns, the crank arm 25 carried thereby, through link rod 27, rocks the floating lever arm about its pivotal connection 35 with the rear end of the rod 36, the latter being held against movement by vthe worm gearing 40a and 41 of the steering mechanism. Since the rack bar 31 of the nozzle operating means is connected at 3d with the arm 29 at an intermediate point, both the nozzle and valve will be so actuated as to procure a quickly executed reversal in their operating positions. Thus, the control mechanism yof the present invention is simple, compact and easily actuated under all conditions of boat operation. v

'I claim: j

l. Apparatus for steering and controlling the operation of jet-propelled boats, comprising: a turnable nozzle having an operating stem; power actuated Waterfdisplacing means having an outlet conduit leading to said nozzle; a water how-regulating valve mounted `for turning movement in said conduit, said valve including an operating stem; a gear fixed to each stern of said nozzle and valve; a slidable rack bar engaging the teeth of the gear on the stem of the nozzle to impart turning movement to the nozzle uponv reciprocation of the bar; a slidable rack bar engaging the teeth of the gear on the stem of the 4valve to impart turning movement to the valve upon reciprocation of the bar; a crank arm fixed to the stem of said valve; a foating lever arm; a pivotal connection uniting one end of the rack bar off said nozzle with said lever arm at a .position intermediate the length of the lever arm; a link rod pivotally uniting the crank arm of said valve stem with one end of said lever arm; dual, manually operated, relatively slowand .fast-acting means for imparting oscillatory movement 'to said lever arm; said slow-acting means embodying a wheel-turned shaft mounted for rotation; an oscillatory crank member mounted -for oscillation; Worm and gear means operatively connected to and actuated by said wheel-turned shaft and operatively connected to said crank member for oscillating said crank member and maintaining it in a vlposition to which it is oscillated; a longitudinally eX- tending rod pivotally united at its forward end `with said d crank member and at its rearen'd --with Ysaid ylever arm; said fast-acting means embodying a rock shaft rigidly carrying a manually actuated lever and `a crank arm; and a longitudinally extending reach rod pivotally united at its forward end with the crank arm lof said rock shaft and its rear end with the rack bar of said valve stem.

2. Apparatus for steering and controlling the operation of a boat propelled by hydraulic mechanism embodying a power-driven water-displacing means, a turna-ble nozzle to which water is supplied under pressure by said .means through a connecting conduit and -a movable valve positioned in said conduit for regulating Water tlow therethrough, said nozzle and valve each embodying a shaft for turning the same, the shaft of the nozzle and the shaft of the valve each being equipped with a gear disposed in mesh with a slid'able rack bar; said apparatus comprising a rock shaft having fixed thereto an actuating lever and a crank arm; a longitudinally extending reach rod pivotally connected at one end with said crankiarm andat its opposite end with the rack bar meshing with the gear of the valve shaft; va steering mechanism including a rotatably .mounted wheel-turned shaft provided with a worm; a worm gear in mesh with said worm; an oscillatory mounted crank member operatively connected to and rocked by the turningmovement of said worm gear; a longitudinally extending connecting rod pivotally joined at'its Iforward end with said crank member; a floating lever arm pivotally joined at one end with the rear end of said connecting rod; means pivotally uniting the rack bar which meshes with the gear on the nozzle-turning shaft at a position intermediate the length of the floating lever arm; a crank element fixed to one end of the turning shaft of'` said valve; and a connecting link uniting the crank element of said valve with the end of said floating lever arm opposite to that joined with said connecting rod.

3. Apparatus for steering and controlling :the operation of a boat propelled Iby hydraulic mechanism, said mechanism embodying a centrifugal pump, a turnable nozzle member to which water is supplied under pressure by said pump through a pipe connection and a movable valve regulating the flow of water through said connection, said apparatus comprising: a rock shaft; a lever xed to the shaft for imparting rocking movement thereto; a crank arm joined with said shaft formovement in unison therewith; gearing for actuating said valve; motion-transmitting linkage uniting said crank `arm and valve-actuating gearing; an oscillatory mounted crank member; steering mechanism including a rotatably mounted shaft; worm gearing operatively connected to and actuated by said shaft and operatively connected to said crank member for imparting oscillatory movement to said crank member; a floating lever arm; linkage uniting said crank member with one end of said lever arm; gearing for imparting turning movement to said nozzle, said last-named gearing including a sliding rack bar pivotally joined at one end thereof with an intermediate portion of said lever arm; a crank element carried by said valve; and a link pivotally united at one end with the outer end of said crank element `and a'tits other end with the other end of said lever arm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hanley Mar. 10, 1942 VHanley Oct. 19, 1954 

